Contra (LP)

Vampire Weekend

Amoeba Review

This charming Brooklyn group conquered the indie world with their peppy, inventive sound, which merged Afrobeat and highlife sounds with Ivy League lyrical musings – sort of an Generation Y update of Paul Simon’s Graceland. Ezra Koenig & crew have done the unlikely on their followup – expanding and enhancing their sound and vision without losing any of the energy of their debut. Like a Wes Anderson movie, their music is an onslaught of brainy cuteness, nestling bittersweet emotions in a forest of dazzling art direction. Contra adds bigger drums, and hip-hop & dancehall touches that nicely contrast with Koenig’s lovable nerdiness. “California English” features a surprising use of autotune, done to death in club music but here hilariously repurposed amid the cellos of a wry indie ballad. Still the freshest kids you know!